The audacity of MetroCentre naming rights

Thursday

Today let’s talk about the MetroCentre, as in, what’s happening with those naming rights? I’m told that an arena like ours should fetch at least $400,000 for a 10-year contract.

Today let’s talk about the MetroCentre, as in, what’s happening with those naming rights? I’m told that an arena like ours should fetch at least $400,000 for a 10-year contract. I think that’s a stretch, especially in this lousy economy, but that’s a figure they’re working with at the Metro.

Ald. Doug Mark, R-3, is Metro’s vice president in charge of naming rights and high muckety-muck seating. He said he’s been talking to several firms but hasn’t inked a deal. Mark wouldn’t tell me who they are.

Why not capitalize on the popularity of the Chicago Blackhawks? Invite the Blackhawks — whose farm team, the Rockford Ice Hogs, is the red barn’s key tenant — to name the building. This isn’t my idea, but it’s been kicking around for nearly a year.

Mark confirmed that the city now pays the Blackhawks $850,000 a year for the Ice Hogs franchise. So, what if Mayor Larry Morrissey said to the Blackhawks:

“We’ll pay you $650,000 for the franchise fee, and you get the naming rights at the bargain price of $200,000. Call it ‘The Hawk’ if you like. We’ll put up banners throughout the Forest City and ask the tollway to put up signs on I-90. IDOT can do the same on I-39.

“We’ll rename part of Elm Street ‘Wirtz Way’ and even fix the moonscape pavement there. And when we get that Amtrak train that’s coming down the line, we’ll make sure it’s called ‘The Blackhawk,’ and we’ll get the railroad to put your name on it. Such a deal!”

This is not a joke. It’s a real plan (mostly) that’s been kicking around in the talking stage at high levels in Rockford for months and months and months and months.

Let’s all play Illinois budget! Gov. Pat Quinn, the quixotic one, has already delayed the state’s fiscal 2011 budget speech, which he is now scheduled to give March 10. Evidently, he’s not done with the budget yet, and he wants our ideas to speed him along.

The governor has a Web site, budget.illinois.gov, where we are invited to comment on spending priorities, suggest budget cuts or point out other ways to economize. The comments I’ve seen are literate, relevant, thought-provoking, and almost all of them are signed by real people who give the name of their city or town.

Here are some excerpts:

“I believe the State of Illinois should do more to stop fraudulent Medicaid claims being submitted by physicians and Long Term Care facilities,” said Jennifer Cappellano of Bourbonnais.

“The state of Illinois must have massive, fair, spending cuts before any tax increases are approved. I also agree the property tax system and pension system (are) broken. A two-tier system is better than no change at all,” wrote David W. Dallmeyer of Schaumburg.

“One area for immediate spending control would involve abandoning plans for an airport at Peotone,” said George Rock of Palos Heights.

JoAnne Bonavia of Rockford urged Quinn to “protect health care in the budget, including providing adequate Medicaid funding for the upcoming fiscal year. This will not only help our most vulnerable populations — the young, the elderly, pregnant women, disabled and blind — but also will ensure that the state continues receiving considerable additional federal Medicaid matching funds under the state’s enhanced (federal medical assistance percentages) rate.”